Amusement riding device for children



Sept. 12,1961 H.M.GABR1E| soN AMUSEMENT RIDING DEVICE FOR CHILDREN Filed June 50, 1959 FIGZ El A QWHM ATTORNEYS 2 999 688 AMUSEMENT RmIN DEvrcn Fon CHILDREN Harold M. Gabrielson, Merced, Calif., assignor of onehalf to Pentecostal Church of God, Merced, Calif,

an unincorporated association Filed June 30, 1959, Ser. No. 823,887 Claims. (Cl. 272-33) The present invention is directed to, and it is a major object to provide, an occupant-actuated amusement riding device for children; such device being constructed in a manner so that a child, occupying a seat which said device includes, can-by body action-produce a rocking, rotating and bouncing motion which the child greatly enjoys.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide an amusement riding device, as in the preceding paragraph, which includes a spherical body mounted on a base for such rocking as well as rotary motion; the seat being mounted atop said spherical body for such bouncing motion.

An additional object of the invention is to provide an amusement riding device of the type described which is quite safe in use in that it cannot accidentally upset, and means are also included to prevent the spherical body from rocking beyond a predetermined limit and which might otherwise spill the child from the seat onto the floor.

\It is also an object of the invention to provide an amusement riding device for children which is designed for ease and economy of manufacture.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a practical, reliable, and durable amusement riding device for children, and one which is exceedingly effective for the purpose for which it is designed.

These objects are accomplished by means of such structure and relative arrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the following specification and claims.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the amusement riding device in its normal position.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the same as rocked in one direction to the limit of such movement.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged side elevation of the device, mainly in section.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings and to the characters of reference marked thereon, the novel amusement riding device for children comprises a hollow globe-like or spherical body 1 of substantial diameter; such body normally resting-at its bottom center pointon a relatively enlarged circular, floor-engaging base 2.

At the bottom center point, the body 1 is formed with a bore 3 through which a rigid upstanding stud 4 projects in clearance relation; i.e. the bore 3 is substantially oversize relative to the diameter of said stud 4.

The stud 4 is suitably rigidly secured centrally on the base 2 and within the body 1 said stud 4 is fitted with a nut 5 which includes a ring or eye 6.

A tension spring 7, disposed within the body 1, is connected at its lower end to the eye 6 and thence extends upwardly in said body. At its upper end, the tension spring 7 is connected to the eye 8 of an inverted eye bolt 9 whose upper end portion passes through a central upward offset 10 in a chordal cross bar 11 lixedly secured in the upper portion of the body 1 but below the top thereof. Above the offset 10, the eye bolt 9 is tted with an adjustment nut 12, but means of which the tension of the spring 7 can be regulated. Access to the adjustment nut 12 is had through a top central opening 13 in said body 1.

A seat 14 is disposed substantially centrally above the body 1 and includes a forwardly projecting normally substantially horizontal tongue 15. LA short post 16 is fixed on and upstands from the outer end of the tongue 15, and such post 16 is fitted at the top with a transverse handle bar 17. The handle bar 17 is thus disposed ahead of the seat 14 and in a position for convenient grasping by a child occupying such seat; the later -being mounted in connection with the body 1 as follows:

An ear 18 depends in rigid relation from the forward end portion of the tongue 15; i.e. substantially below the post 16; such ear being received in a clevis 19 on the adjacent portion of the body 1. A transverse pivot pin 20 connects the ear 18 in said clevis 19.

A rod 21 is fixed in connection with the seat 14 some distance rearwardly of the ear 18 and substantially centrally under the seat 14; such rod 21 depending into the body 1 through the top central opening 13. Within the body 1 the rod 21 slidably extends intermediate its ends through the chordal cross bar 11. A compression spring 22 surrounds the rod 21 between the bottom of the seat 14 and said cross bar 11 while a stop nut 23 is threaded on the lower end of said rod 21.

As so mounted, the seat 14 is capable of up and down bouncing motion about the pivot pin 20 as an axis.

A circular foot platform 24 surrounds the body 1 intermediate the top and bottom thereof, and such platform is secured to the body-at circumferentially spaced pointsby attachment brackets 25. The circular platform 24 is disposed a distance below the seat 14 so that when a child occupies the latter, his feet rest on such platform `24; the childs legs straddling the post 16. In addition to providing a unique appearance, the platform 24 is full circle to the end that a child may set up onto it from any point to gain access to the seat 14.

The body 1 is tted on the outside-below the platform 24 but normally above the base 2--with a plurality of circumferentially spaced spring-loaded upwardly yieldable caster units 26.

In use of the described amusement riding device, a child steps up onto the platform 24 and then takes a position in the seat 14 with his legs straddling the post 16, his feet on the platform 24, and his hands grasping the handle bar 17.

Thereafter, with a swinging motion of his body-to and fro as -well as laterally-the child causes the spherical body 1 to rock on the base 2 as well as to rotate about the stud 4 as an Iaxis. The device is shown in its rocked position in FIG. 2. Such rocking of the body t1 is permitted by reason of the fact that the central bore 3 in the bottom of the body 1 is considerably oversize relative to the diameter of said stud 4. 'I'he tension spring 7 prevents such rocking motion of the body 1 from being too severe; i.e. dampens the action and additionally tends to return said body 1 to its initial or normal upright position.

Further, the spring-loaded upwardly yieldable caster units limit-with a cushioning elfect-the extent to which the body 1 can be rocked downwardly at any point in its circumference; the corresponding caster unit striking the base 2 in the manner illustrated in FIG. 2.

In addition to causing `the device to rock and rotate as above described, the child can obtain a very entertaining bouncing motion by jouncing up and down in the seat 14 while, of course, retaining his grasp on the handle bar 17.

The riding device thus-by virtue of its sundry movements--provides a very enjoyable pastime for the child yet without any extreme action and with substantialsafety.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that there has been produced such a device as substantially fulfills the objects of the invention, as set forth herein.

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the device, still in practice such deviations from such detail may be resorted to `as do 1. An amusement riding device for children comprising a base, a body Ihaving a spherical lower portion resting on theibase, means securing the body in connection with the base for. simultaneous rocking and rotating motion, means to limit the extent of rocking motion of thebody, saidV last named means being a plurality of spring-loaded upwardly yieldable caster units attached in vcircumferentially spaced relation on the body in adjacent but normally spaced relation to the base, a seat above the body, and means mounting the seat on the body.

2. An amusement riding device for children comprising a base, a body having a spherical lower portion resting on the base, means securing the ebody in connection with the base for simultaneous vrocking and rotating motion, said securing means including a stud fixed on and upstanding from the base, thebody having a central bottom opening through which thestud projects in clearance relation, fand a tension spring connected between the upper end of the stud and an anchor point in the body above said stud; means to limi-t'the extent of rocking motion of the body, a seat above the body, means mounting the seat on thev body, and a foot platform xed on and projecting ofutwardly from the body in front of and below the seat.

3. An amusement riding device orchildren comprisf ing a base, a body having a spherical lower portion resting on the base, means securing. the body in connection with theI base `for simultaneous rocking androtating. motion,

meansto limit the extent of rocking motion of the body on the base, a seat above the body, means mounting the seat on the body for yieldably resisted bouncing motion, said seat mounting means including a forwardly projecting portion on the seat, a transverse axis pivotalconnection between said forwardly projecting portion and the body, and a rod xed on and depending from the seatk rearwardly of said pivotal axis, a body-mounted part throughwhich the rod slidably extends intermediate its ends, and a compression spring about the rod between the seat and said body mounted part; a handle bar upstanding 4.1- from the forwardly projecting portion of the seat, and a foot platform xed on and projecting outwardly from the body in front of and below the seat.

4. An amusement riding device for children comprising a base, a spherical body restingon the base, means securing the body in connection with the base for simultaneous rockingV and rotating motion, means to limit the extent of rocking motion of the body, on the base, a seat mounted atop said body, a handle bar upstanding in front of the seat, and a circular outwardly projecting foot platform attached to and surrounding the body intermediate the top and bottom thereof.

5. An amusement riding device for children comprising a flat base, a hollow spherical body resting on the base, a stud fixed on and upstanding from the base, the body having a central bottom opening through which the stud projects in clearance relation, a chordal cross bar secured in the body adjacent the top thereof, a tension spring in,

the body connected between the stud and cross bar, a seat above the top of the body, the seat including a forwardly extending tongue, a handle bar upstanding from the forward portion of said tongue, means transversely pivoting the tongue in connection .with the adjacent portion of the body, the latter having a top opening below the seat, a yrod iixed on and depending from the seat into said top opening and thence slidably extending through the cross bar, a compression spring about the rod between the seat and cross bar, a foot rest surrounding and secured to the body intermediate the top and bottom thereof, and a plurality of spring-loaded upwardly yieldable caster units xed on the body below the foot rest and normally above thel base.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 4,173 Elliott Sept. 2, 1845 273,530 Hill Mar. 6, 1883 1,769,199 Baxter July l, 1930 2,130,438 Westerlund Sept. 20, 1938 2,325,988 Thomas Aug. 3, 1943 2,862,710 Lewis Dec. 2, 1958 

